Clark Atlanta University student Gabrielle Willis said she wasn’t surprised in late March when she learned of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office plans to cancel 455,000 “inactive” voter registrations later this year, but the news did concern her. “We face a lot going back and forth here at the AUC,” Willis told Capital B […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The Three Records That Fani Willis’ Office Withheld in Trump Case
Back in 2023, Fani Willis seemed unstoppable. The first-term Fulton County district attorney became a national name after announcing in August of that year her intent to succeed where many before her had failed: holding the then-former President Donald Trump accountable. Willis brought criminal racketeering charges against Trump, alleging that he attempted to alter the […]
Posted inHigher Education, Politics & Policy
Morehouse Confronts Potential Threat of ICE Arrival on Campus
Morehouse College freshman Adrian “Panama” Malvaez said he can still picture the horrific dream from earlier this year in which, on a typical day of working in his school’s dining hall, he was abruptly taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. “Everyone was like, ‘Wait, no, no, don’t take Panama!’” the 18-year-old […]
Posted inHousing, Politics & Policy
Warnock Wants to Help Young Atlantans Buy Homes, Pay Rent
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., introduced a set of new federal housing bills on Tuesday that may be a lifeline for Atlantans struggling to pay rent and purchase their first home. The policy proposals face steep challenges to becoming law in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, but GOP leaders in other states […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Black Immigrants in Atlanta Mobilize Amid Rising Deportation Threats
A small group of Black Atlanta immigrants listened intently last month as Uzo Akpele shared guidance on how to navigate the heightened threat of detention and deportation under a second President Donald Trump administration. “If you are undocumented, you should have a plan in place for if you get detained,” the Nigerian immigration lawyer told […]
Posted inCity Politics, Politics & Policy
Is a Second Andre Dickens Term Inevitable?
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens officially launched his reelection bid on Tuesday, but even he’s not sure who’s running against him. “Without any opponents yet, is this all for show?” Dickens told hundreds of supporters early Tuesday evening at a campaign kickoff party inside the Monday Night Brewing location in the West End. The 50-year-old former […]
Posted inHousing, Local Politics, Politics & Policy, State Politics
Atlanta Residents’ Calls for Rent Control Ignored by Lawmakers
Atlanta Housing Justice League Executive Director Alison Johnson expressed anger and regret on Monday after bills backed by her organization failed to advance before the legislature’s Thursday Crossover Day deadline. Failure to pass related bills in the state House or the state Senate by the end of Crossover Day means it’s unlikely Georgia’s legislature will pass […]
Posted inHousing, Politics & Policy, State Politics
The Rent Is Too Damn High. Will Georgia Lawmakers Do Anything About It?
Black Atlantans and housing justice advocates have spent the past few years begging state lawmakers to do more to address housing-related issues like affordable housing shortages, rising rents, and low levels of homeownership among Black families. In response, Georgia Democrats — who had difficulty turning out Black voters in November — made addressing housing issues […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services, State Politics
What Georgia Lawmakers Are Doing About Your Sky-High Utility Bills
Ariana Brazier is sick of paying sky-high light bills. The 31-year-old Decatur resident said she’s seen her Georgia Power electric bill surge from about $90 a month in 2023 to roughly $300 a month this year. The added financial stress has left her in a “constant panic” over ways to reduce her expenses. She’s one […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy, Unsafe Water
Proposed Rollback of Lead Pipe Regulations Threatens Health of Atlanta Communities
Republican lawmakers are seeking to end a Biden administration mandate that local governments and water utilities identify and replace lead pipes nationwide, potentially obstructing efforts being made in metro Atlanta. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) aim to eliminate toxic pipes in the U.S. within the next 10 years. Following this mandate, areas like […]
